Is Re-baptism Ever Acceptable?

I have been asked on several occasions what my thoughts are regarding re-baptism. I have in mind those who were previously baptized in a legitimate Biblical manner, but want to be baptized again for various reasons. The Bible does not directly address this issue, so we cannot cite chapter and verse to settle it. We have to think about it theologically and practically. Here are my thoughts on the matter.

First, we have to consider what makes baptism effective. According to Paul, it is one’s faith in what God is doing through the act of baptism:

In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. (Col 2:11-12)

If one exercised genuine faith in Jesus when they were baptized, then their baptism was legitimate and spiritually efficacious, and there is no spiritual need to be rebaptized. They already have the spiritual benefits of baptism applied to their life. Being rebaptized will add nothing to their spiritual life that they do not possess already. However, if one did not have faith in Jesus when they were baptized, or if they are not certain whether they had genuine faith at the time and they feel the need to be rebaptized, then by all means they should do so.

Ignorance

Some, however, will cite their lack of understanding regarding the purpose or significance of baptism as a reason for wanting to get rebaptized. This is often the case with those who were baptized as young children (ages 5-10, or thereabout). While they believed in Jesus when they got baptized, they didn’t really understand the full significance of baptism. Some may have been entirely ignorant, and their only reason for getting baptized was peer pressure, wanting to follow the example of their friends, or wanting to please their parents. Others may have had some basic knowledge about the purpose of baptism – such as the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16) – but did not understand the full significance of baptism as an act by which we are judicially identified with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection (Rom 6:1-11).

Is ignorance or misunderstanding a good reason to be rebaptized? I do not think so. Consider the Roman Christians. They were continuing to sin so that they could experience more of God’s grace (Rom 6:1). According to Paul, this gross distortion of the gospel was due to their ignorance of the spiritual realities conferred in baptism:

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Rom 6:1-11)

Was Paul’s solution rebaptism? No.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (Rom 6:12-14)

Their problem was intellectual and volitional. They needed information and a change of perspective, not another dunk in the tank. While greater knowledge and understanding can make the experience of baptism more meaningful to a person, it does not make it any more spiritually effective. One baptism is sufficient.

Post-baptismal Sin

Another common reason people seek rebaptism is due to guilt over post-baptismal sins. These individuals had been baptized, served Christ for a time, but for whatever reason went back to a life of sin. When they return to God they are heavy-laden with moral guilt and shame and want a clean start again. Recalling how spiritually clean they felt after their first baptism, getting baptized a second time seems like a good way to wipe the slate clean.

I would highly advise against rebaptism in this scenario. While baptism is for the forgiveness of sins, Scripture implies that baptism is a once-for-all sacrament. Recall the fact that baptism identifies us with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus only died once, was only buried once, and only rose from the dead once. It seems to follow then, that we only need to be identified with Christ once.

The proper way to address post-baptismal moral failures is not by getting baptized again (otherwise we would have to get baptized daily), but repentance and trust in Christ. John wrote, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn 1:9), and again, “But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins.” (1Jn 2:1b-2a). The blood of Christ atones for our post-baptismal sins. We do not need to be rebaptized to receive forgiveness. We just need to repent.

Some will say, “I have repented, but I do not feel forgiven. I still feel guilt and shame for what I have done.” The solution is not baptism, but faith. We must trust that God has forgiven us of our sins, even if we do not feel forgiven. We must align our feelings with what we know to be true by the Word of God. A continued sense of guilt and shame is not reason to be rebaptized, but reason to question whether or not one is truly trusting in Christ’s atonement, and truly believes that God forgives those who confess their sins.

Conclusion

We only have need of one baptism. As long as we exercised faith in Christ during baptism, it is valid. Ignorance and post-baptismal sin are not sufficient grounds for rebaptism. The only reason one should seek rebaptism is if they did have genuine faith when they were baptized.

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5 Responses to “Is Re-baptism Ever Acceptable?”

– The first baptism was administered incorrectly, i.e. it wasn’t a genuine, Scriptural baptism

– For someone who may have been previously baptized correctly, but at the time, did it for the wrong reasons

– Someone who was baptized correctly by someone who didn’t really hold the faith themselves; therefore, the baptized person didn’t want to “take any chances” and so, was re-baptized

However, I have heard of pastor’s re-baptizing someone if they were baptized years ago, but had never received the Holy Spirit, and subsequent to that baptism, fell away and lived a life of unbelief and in rebellion to God. The idea being that, perhaps such a person never truly repented to begin with and didn’t actually have saving faith in Christ at the time their first baptism was administered.

Personally, I’ve thought that perhaps children, who were baptized at a very young age, like say 5 or 6, if they don’t barely remember it, and can’t say for sure if they truly had saving faith, then perhaps they should be re-baptized.

Of course, if they received the Holy Spirit prior to such a baptism, then no additional baptisms should ever be administered.

“If one exercised genuine faith in Jesus when they were baptized, then their baptism was legitimate and spiritually efficacious, and there is no spiritual need to be rebaptized. They already have the spiritual benefits of baptism applied to their life. Being rebaptized will add nothing to their spiritual life that they do not possess already. However, if one did not have faith in Jesus when they were baptized, or if they are not certain whether they had genuine faith at the time and they feel the need to be rebaptized, then by all means they should do so.”

Jason, this is well said and stands to put to rest all the arguments about the “modes” of baptism. Also by definition this logically excludes infant baptism as being a scriptural baptism.

The Bible does address people being re-baptized….in Acts 19:1-6, Paul meets several disciples of Jesus who were already baptized into John’s baptism. When they were asked how they were baptized, realizing they hadn’t been baptized in Jesus name, Paul had them get re-baptised in the name of Jesus 🙏🏽

Paul didn’t know what he was doing when he insisted on re-baptizing since he had never met Jesus or knew very much about him at all, unless he was present at the trial and/or the crucifixion like he was present and approved those who killed Stephen.(Acts 22:19,20–…Lord,’ I answered, ‘they know very well that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You. 20 And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ ) Otherwise Paul would have known that Jesus himself was baptized by John so we can reasonably assume that if it was good enough for the Leader, it should have been good enough for the followers.

In fact the baptism was merely one of those rituals that meant nothing but pretense to show off, as it still is today for the accolades of similar proselytes to please Church Elders. As a matter of fact when John argued with his cousin Jesus about not wanting to baptize Jesus….Jesus’s counter argument was “Do it John for all righteousness sake” Even the righteousness of pretense because there were many people around and they believed that John’s baptism had meaning for the Father and they do not!.

As to what Jesus thought about sacrifices and offerings, rituals and church sacraments, including baptism:

Hebrews in chapter 10 and look at the 5th and 7th verse.

“Hence when Christ entered into the world he said sacrifices and offerings you have not desired”; in other words, the pragmatic, externals of mere religion are not satisfying to you Father. It isn’t that a man goes once a week in a piece of real estate. Or simply undergoes as a matter of tradition and form certain sacraments. Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired but instead Father you have made ready a body for me to offer you, Father.
“Then I said” verse 7, “Lo here I am come to do your will oh God, to fulfill what is written of me in the volume of the book but the time has come Father for that story be told in terms of the flesh and blood of my incarnate humanity so I want you to know Father that the body you prepared for me and gave me when I was born at Bethlehem I now present to you to do your will. That is true baptism which Paul had no knowledge of. Paul did not write Hebrews, he did not write Acts and he was born into ritualism, by virtue of having been born into the practice of Pharisaical Ritual Legalism.

It is observable, for example, that Paul identified the Ritualistic and Ecclesiastical zeal of the Pharisees with pride. Obsessed by his own virtue, the Pharisee in the parable about the Publican(Tax Collector) and the Pharisee, The Pharisee boasts his status by his virtue and ritualism:…..”…..The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Some examples in the New Testament alluding to the scrupulous concern of the Pharisees with the minutia of their legalism are:

The scrupulous details of the minutia of the law are easily seen in the Mishnah. This encyclopedia of Pharisaic legalism instructs the reader with incredible detail concerning every conceivable area of conduct.

FOR EXAMPLE:
And when they(PHARISEES) saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.

For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.

Jesus very well knew what Isaiah and others said about sacrifices, offerings and rituals:

Isaiah 1:11-17

11-12 “Why this frenzy of sacrifices?”
God’s asking.
“Don’t you think I’ve had my fill of burnt sacrifices,
rams and plump grain-fed calves?
Don’t you think I’ve had my fill
of blood from bulls, lambs, and goats?
When you come before me,
whoever gave you the idea of acting like this,
Running here and there, doing this and that—
all this sheer commotion in the place provided for worship?
13-17 “Quit your worship charades.
I can’t stand your trivial religious games:
Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings—
meetings, meetings, meetings—I can’t stand one more!
Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them!
You’ve worn me out!
I’m sick of your religion, religion, religion,
while you go right on sinning.
When you put on your next prayer-performance,
I’ll be looking the other way.
No matter how long or loud or often you pray,
I’ll not be listening.
And do you know why? Because you’ve been tearing
people to pieces, and your hands are bloody.
Go home and wash up.
Clean up your act.
Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings
so I don’t have to look at them any longer.
Say no to wrong.
Learn to do good.
Work for justice.
Help the down-and-out.
Stand up for the homeless.
Go to bat for the defenseless.

Psalm 51:16-17

16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Lindsay, that’s true, but their re-baptism is not parallel to the kind of rebaptism that my post is discussing. Those in Acts 19 only experienced Christian baptism once. I’m referring to people who want to experience Christian baptism twice.